The Lady Panthers congratulates Kirby Taylor on a great catch during the game against Huffman on April 20. Taylor caught a line drive from Huffman during Liberty’s 4-2 home victory.

The Lady Panthers congratulates Kirby Taylor on a great catch during the game against Huffman on April 20. Taylor caught a line drive from Huffman during Liberty’s 4-2 home victory.

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Allison Meche, left, laughs with Shelby VanDeventer after VanDeventer made two great back-to-back catches against the Lady Falcons.

Allison Meche, left, laughs with Shelby VanDeventer after VanDeventer made two great back-to-back catches against the Lady Falcons.

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Photo: JASON FOCHTMAN

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Pair of big wins send Lady Panthers to playoffs

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The Liberty Lady Panthers have fought and clawed their way into the playoffs with a pair of big wins last week, starting with a 4-2 win over district champion Huffman on Tuesday, April 20.

Liberty led 4-0 before giving up a pair of runs late in the game, but the Panther defense came up in key situations to stave off the late rally by the Falcons.

Katherine McAdams scored a run and had a triple in the game. Allison Meche, Kirby Taylor and Amanda Leonard each scored for the Panthers. Taylor had an RBI and Leonard went 2 for 3 and had two RBIs in the game. Taylor Kaderli also had a sac fly.

Liberty’s pitching staff of Taylor Kaderli and Katherine McAdams came up big for the Panthers. Kaderli didn’t allow a run in 20 batters and only two hit in five innings. McAdams followed up allowing two runs — none earned — and one hit after two innings.

The win put pressure on Coldspring to take care of business against Splendora on April 23.

Liberty took care of business against Shepherd in a 2-1 win on Friday.

The score was tied at one run apiece after the first inning until the Panthers were able to score the winning run in the fifth.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Liberty hit a sacrifice fly that ended up allowing the runner from third to come in for the winning run after Shepherd’s infielder threw to get the runner out at first, rather than home.

Liberty would have had to play an in-district playoff game against Coldspring on Saturday, but Splendora defeated the Trojans 6-0 to send Liberty into the post season.

The Panthers will face Hampshire-Fannett in the first round of the playoffs. The date and location of the match has not been announced as of press time.